LLAMAS FOUND BUTCHERED — Madera County animal control officers found four butchered llamas near Avenue 10 and Road 36. According to director Tim Bible, they appeared to have been dead for seven to 10 days. Three had been butchered for their meat with only the heads and feet left. The fourth was a whole carcass. It appears that the remains had been dumped at the site.

NEW JAIL 60 PERCENT COMPLETE — Madera County’s new jail at Road 28 and Avenue 14 is about 60 percent done. Roof joints and decking on the $14.9 million project are being put into place, and roofing will take place on Monday. Once the doors and windows are installed, the only work remaining will be on the inside. The new jail is being financed with a state grant and local bonds.

FILM COMMISSION LANDS BIG FILM — Dan Aykroyd and John Candy, stars in the new movie “Big Country,” now being filmed at Bass Lake took a stroll through Ducey’s Lodge yesterday. Universal Studios is producing the movie and is injecting an estimated $2 million in the economy of Eastern Madera County. “Big Country” is the first major studio film to be shot in Bass Lake since 1945 and the first big haul made by the Madera County Film Commission.

COUNTY MAY GET NEW COURT SYSTEM — Although the state is offering more money for municipal courts than for justice courts, two supervisors have let it be known they don’t want to lose the justice courts in their districts. Mountain area supervisor Harry Baker and Chowchilla supervisor Al Ginsburg gave notice that they would not support municipal courts for their districts. The board will study a proposal for the switch nevertheless...